crescent girl 1,915 Posted July 10, 2013 As always, the Berwick website is full of news on a Wednesday morning: RICKY ASHWORTH IS BACK! Berwick’s speedway Bandits – unbeaten in Saturday-night action since May 4th – will have a familiar face on parade on Saturday, when popular ace Ricky Ashworth returns to the ranks. The Manchester-based flier was sidelined by two April accidents – at Glasgow and, as he attempted a brief comeback, shortly afterwards at Edinburgh – which left him with the after-effects of severe concussions. Several neurological scans, and even extraction of wisdom teeth, failed to bring a speedy return to full health, but time – the great healer -- finally allowed the rider to resume practising at the end of last month, and after riding lap after lap around Stoke, and a further session at Sheffield, Ashworth has at last been passed as fit to return to Berwick’s colours. “He returns to his role at No 1, allowing Edward Kennett to revert to a full-time role at Swindon, which is what that club most certainly wanted, even if Eddie didn’t!” said team manager Ian Rae. “However, Kozza Smith will continue in his role as club captain, allowing Ricky to concentrate fully on getting himself back into the main business of scoring points for the New Holland Bandits”. Points will be needed on Saturday, with Redcar Bears in town and in rampant form, currently second in the PL table – boosted by an extra point awarded after an SCB enquiry into their recent match at Edinburgh – but Berwick, who lost out to the Bears by the narrowest of margins IN A TENSE ko Cup encounter earlier in the season, are anxious to gain revenge. With Nicki Barrett still unfit, Bandits have invited 20-year-old Ashley Morris to act as their guest at reserve, while Redcar will employ Josh Bates as a replacement for Germany’s Max Dilger. Saturday’s teams will line up: Berwick: 1. Ricky Ashworth, 2. David Bellego, 3. Robin Aspegren, 4. Matty Wethers, 5. Kozza Smith (captain), 6. Ashley Morris (guest), 7. Paul Starke. Redcar:: 1. Ulrich Oestergaard, 2. Hugh Skidmore, 3. Matej Kus, 4. Micky Dyer, 5. Aaron Summers (Captain), 6. Josh Bates (Guest), 7. Carl Wilkinson. HOSPITALITY BECKONS: The hospitality packages offered by Berwick’s Bandits have become legendary in speedway circles. These very special evenings for the club’s guests open with a photo-session with one of their favourite speedway stars, followed by the club’s marvellous buffet supper and bar service during racing -- augmented by a revealing infield visit during racing! Bookings are now open for individual guests and/or party bookings at two Saturday matches in July, being July 13th (v Redcar) and July 27th (v Glasgow). The cost is only £30 per person (including admission, food, drinks and a souvenir programme) and can be booked by contacting club@berwickbandits.co EDWARD KENNETT: Edward was deeply disappointed at leaving his temporary role as a Bandit, but appreciated he would always be returning to Swindon when Ricky Ashworth resumed full fitness. “I chatted to Eddie when we were at Plymouth” commented Berwick’s meeting presenter Dick Barrie. “He told me that Swindon had twice told him in recent weeks he had to revert to full-time duty with them, but that he flatly refused to do so until we could assure him Ricky was ready to resume”. “He told me that the Berwick promotion, the staff and our supporters are just amazing, and if our track was situated 300 miles further south he’d be a Bandit again in a heartbeat! DEFENDING THE ‘FOURS’ TITLE: The New Holland Bandits will defend their Premier League Fours title at the East of England Showground at Peterborough on Sunday (July 14th). Ricky Ashworth will of course join the border quartet now, replacing Edward Kennett. The top four riders by average (the riding order will be 1. Kozza Smith, 2. Ricky Ashworth, 3. Robin Aspegren, 4. Matthew Wethers) form the quartet with next in line (David Bellego) in reserve. The New Hollanders will be in Group A on the day – wearing red helmets throughout -- alongside Scunthorpe, Ipswich and Workington. Group B comprises: Somerset, Edinburgh, Leicester, Newcastle SEBASTIAN ALDEN: Former Bandits’ favourite (and club asset) Seb Alden had decided to confine his UK racing to the midweek Elite League in 2013, hoping to spend more quality time in Sweden with his young family. However, Seb has been persuaded to “do a Kennett” and turn out at Premier level for Plymouth Devils as a short-term injury replacement for the Devon club’s injured Australian Ty Proctor. “We wish him well” said club director George Hepburn. “Unfortunately, as Plymouth have already visited Shielfield this season, it is unlikely he will be seen in action at Berwick in 2013, other than perhaps as a guest rider”. EDWARD’S GP CHALLENGE: Despite his having been replaced in the Shielfield line-up, Edward Kennett’s progress on the GP trail will be followed with interest by all at the club. He has now learned the new date for his Grand Prix qualification semi-final, washed out at Esjberg, Denmark two weeks ago. This meeting will now be staged, again in Denmark but at the Holsted track, down on the Jutland peninsula on Thursday, August 8th. Qualification among the top eight from the event would put the 26-year-old Bandit at Poole for the Grand Prix Challenge meeting there on August 24th – just five races away from direct entry to the 2014 Grand Prix series! WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL AT SHIELFIELD PARK IN AUGUST The international authorities who will be staging the World Under-21 Championship (Final 2) at Shielfield Park next month have announced admission charges. The event is staged by the BSPA (British Speedway Promoters Association) on behalf of the FIM. Adults will pay £20, with concessions £16, children 12-16 £6, 11 and under free. There will be a massive Eastern European invasion of Berwick-upon-Tweed on August 10th. Following the first round (of three) for the World U-21 Championship, riders from Poland, Latvia and Russia are leading the points table as the world’s very best young riders roll into town for Shielfield Park’s first-ever World Championship Final. This will be biggest speedway event ever staged in the border town, and pays tribute to the hard work by the club’s ownership since taking control less than five years ago. With riders from at least three other speedway nations joining the leaders, their followers will flood the town with visitors from all over Europe, for the World Under-21 Final on Saturday, August 10th. Following the earlier event at Pila, Poland, on June 29th, the current standings are: Patryk Dudek (Poland) 14, Andrej Lebedev (Latvia) 11, Kacper Gomolski (Poland) 11, Wladimir Borodulin (Russia 10), Piotr Pawlicki (Poland) 10, Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark) 8, Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland) 8, Nicklas Porsing (Denmark) 8, Adam Strzelec (Poland) 8, Tobiasz Musielak (Poland) 8, Vaclav Milik (Czech Republic) 6, Nikolaj Jakobsen (Denmark) 6, Mikkel Bech (Denmark) 5, Artur Cjaza (Poland) 3, Lasse Bjerre (Denmark) 3, Kyle Howarth (Great Britain) 1. “Although Patryk Dudek is currently in – excuse me – Pole position, that situation can change in a heartbeat” admitted Berwick co-promoter Ryan Anderson. “We are so proud the FIM, and the British authorities, have awarded us this huge event” said co-promoter Ryan Anderson. “I take it as a massive compliment to our staff, who worked miracles in staging our first FIM meeting last season despite heavy rain before and during racing”. “We received so many compliments on the quality and work ethic of our track-staff, and on our overall presentation of the event – but to be awarded another, even more-important, FIM meeting so soon is really quite an honour”. “Speedway is without doubt helping to put Berwick-upon-Tweed pretty firmly on the map!” NEXT RACING AT BERWICK Next racing at Shielfield Park will be on Saturday, July 27th with a return visit of the 2011 Premier League champion Glasgow Tigers, in a meeting which in all probability will see the final appearances at Berwick of the great Joe Screen, and his team-mate James Grieves. Tapes go up, as is usual on a Saturday night, at 7pm. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emilali 500 Posted July 10, 2013 Poor choice of guest, Morris has never been any good at Berwick, particularly on a track with some shale on. Close meeting in store, Dyer could go through the card if he has his usual trapping gloves on. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boobs 140 Posted July 10, 2013 Poor choice of guest, Morris has never been any good at Berwick, particularly on a track with some shale on. Close meeting in store, Dyer could go through the card if he has his usual trapping gloves on. I'm sure the promotion would be interested to learn your recommendation of a better choice of guest? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Backless 538 Posted July 10, 2013 Jesus H Christ - is there no one in control of the pap that gets pumped out up there? Rumour has it there's a World Under 21 Round at Berwick this year … there's been at least 3 press releases that haven't had it tacked on. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emilali 500 Posted July 10, 2013 I'm sure the promotion would be interested to learn your recommendation of a better choice of guest? Not my business to pick a guest, I'm just commenting on the guest thats been picked. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Normski 1,321 Posted July 10, 2013 not much more in the guest department going, out of the 7 teams without a fixture that night Sheffield, Scunthorpe reserves were poor when they were here not worth getting a guest from Ipswich, Plymouth or Somerset due to travelling involved which leaves Glasgow who have Bates guesting for Redcar and Workington which probably explains why Ashley is guesting for Berwick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robinh88 571 Posted July 10, 2013 Should be a good one. Redcar in my opinion aint anything special that said nor are we. Hopefully more passing and banter on the back straight as per 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fromafar 10,479 Posted July 10, 2013 not much more in the guest department going, out of the 7 teams without a fixture that night Sheffield, Scunthorpe reserves were poor when they were here not worth getting a guest from Ipswich, Plymouth or Somerset due to travelling involved which leaves Glasgow who have Bates guesting for Redcar and Workington which probably explains why Ashley is guesting for Berwick. With nothing really at stake ,maybe we should have gave Liam Carr a spin if he was nor required for Buxton looked a little out of his depth at Glasgow but has ridden Shielfield enough times.Not criticising Promotions choice but just a thought and would save some travel expenses. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
screm 8,077 Posted July 10, 2013 (edited) With nothing really at stake ,maybe we should have gave Liam Carr a spin if he was nor required for Buxton looked a little out of his depth at Glasgow but has ridden Shielfield enough times.Not criticising Promotions choice but just a thought and would save some travel expenses. Buxton,his NL club,are at Stoke this saturday. Edited July 10, 2013 by screm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fromafar 10,479 Posted July 10, 2013 Buxton,his NL club,are at Stoke this saturday. Cheers that knocks that on the head I suppose. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
screm 8,077 Posted July 10, 2013 Jesus H Christ - is there no one in control of the pap that gets pumped out up there? Rumour has it there's a World Under 21 Round at Berwick this year … there's been at least 3 press releases that haven't had it tacked on. We love pap. Interesting to read that Edward Kennett was refusing to go back to his full-time duty for Swindon. Cheers that knocks that on the head I suppose. As things stand Carr will race in two more fixtures for Berwick,away at Rye House and Somerset as Paul Starke will be riding for his NL club on those occasions. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bandit59 1,155 Posted July 10, 2013 I think Paul Starke needs to up his game this Saturday night he started of well but has faded in recent weeks needs to be scoring more than 3 at home and as already said on here Ashley not very good at Berwick so even more important on Saturday Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fromafar 10,479 Posted July 10, 2013 I think Paul Starke needs to up his game this Saturday night he started of well but has faded in recent weeks needs to be scoring more than 3 at home and as already said on here Ashley not very good at Berwick so even more important on Saturday We look a bit suspect in the reserve berth.Wilkinson will take care of them if he can stay on the bike.IMO.Should be a decent meeting. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freddyfivetoes 157 Posted July 11, 2013 Wedcar website (sorry, Redcar rebsite) casts doubts over Matej Kus being fit to resume at home tonight. So maybe r/r for them on Saturday? If so, everyone but Oestergaard gets an extra ride, which probably helps the Bears. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
screm 8,077 Posted July 11, 2013 Wall to wall sunshine in Berwick this week,and forecast to stay that way with light winds and warm tempratures all weekend. Wedcar website (sorry, Redcar rebsite) casts doubts over Matej Kus being fit to resume at home tonight. So maybe r/r for them on Saturday? If so, everyone but Oestergaard gets an extra ride, which probably helps the Bears. Of course you could always edit your post,as Im sure the misspelling of Redcar was unintentional. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
